Lyles tells Unfair Park this morning that the money is intended to serve as a "challenge grant" of sorts in the hopes that City Hall can finally make this happen. The expectation is that the money will jump-start the design and implementation process; he hopes to have this finished within six months.

"They can't sit on their hands indefinitely," he tells Unfair Park this morning, in advance of a noon press conference in the City Hall Flag Room during which council members Scott Griggs and Monica Alonzo will announce the grant. "We'll see. I hope they take us up on it. Private and public entities have a lot to gain, and if this is enacted, other communities can follow suit. ...

"We want to see something happen, and I think everybody wants to see something happen," he adds. "Everybody has agreed this is what we want --- well, most everybody -- and we see it as an opportunity to expedite them. Possibly waving a little money in everyone's face may do the trick. We'll find out."